The final week of May is the last week the Syrian conflict could be considered as something of an offspring of the Arab Spring . What started out as a protest in Derra is now, come the Houla massacre, a whole different warring ballgame, and something the international community, not least the Arab neighbors can no longer stomach without intervention. Was this the week that a protest game became something altogether uglier? Not dissimilarly to Libya's tyranny , and escalation, the nature of the Syria protest beast spilled into something ...

Cannes 2012 Film Festival presented a lot of Arab talent with a chance to showcase the fruits of their revolutionary year's labor. The springboard for former Arab hit films as Caramel 2007 , the international film platform proved this year to be a hot spot for budding Arab stars and starlets , a fashion catwalk for dazzling provocative dresses, and a comfortable patch for known celebrity faces to shmooze and work those redcarpets. The usual suspects mingled with the latest film inspiration from the Middle East to produce quite an ...

As Egypt's initial voting results break through the cloudy horizon of Egypt's political future, we take a look at the indications of the people's choice so far. While there are voting patterns to be found by mapping the disparate populace by region and demographic, the story of how five became two is still confounding many from the electorate to the outsider. A nation spoilt for choice with Salafis, Brothers, Arab nationalists, seculars, former militarians, old school, lefties, moderates, as well as the new breed of post Tahrir revolutionaries to the ...

Even as things hot-up in the electorate of Egypt over the final two candidates set to face-off in a run-off , it's not all doom and gloom, or intense as you could be forgiven for imagining, in a country that's gone through as much as revolutionary post-Tahrir Egypt. The Egyptians have retained their unfailing humor and, while some are genuinely horrified at the prospect of either of the two candidates up for the presidential seat, others are grinning and bearing it. For Egyptians, who value their entertainment industry as much ...

Drama, gossip, the first wives , and the first deaths, the road to the presidential Egyptian elections has been mired in controversy. Here's a reminder of some of the defining moments leading up to the hotly anticipated presidential elections. Gone are the days of 99% in favor of Mubarak , this time there are real candidates, real votes and the chance for Egyptians to finally have their say . From communists to Islamists, this time round, there have been rich pickings , but will Egyptians be overwhelmed by the choice ...

As the Egyptian presidential elections are fast approaching (due May 23-24) we are inevitably hearing from our Egyptian celebrities. These local hot-shots have managed to find themselves involved or dragged into the Tahrir fray before now. Some artists seem to be voting in the interest of stability for Egypt, keeping their votes, as far as possible, loyal to the old guard. Even those, as 'dog-listed,' Ilham Chahine have not shirked away from the political spotlight that found them blacklisted by the masses last year for their show of support for ...

The second season of the pan-Arab hit talent contest Arabs Got Talent , already underway, has been causing more than its fair share of buzz lately. Just ahead of today's final auditions rounds, we bring you the juiciest auditions so far . We've been spoilt for choice in creative talent stakes at this early stage of the game. From 'Lord Gaga' to a Tunisian revolutionary female poet, here's a reminder of what's already passed , whether as Arab talent history or through to the next round. Not without a few ...

Last week, the notorious US pastor with the same old mission, but different excuse for defiling Islam's holy book with fire, returned to our headlines and screens. Pastor Terry Jones was back with a burning vengeance because an Iranian Christian cleric on death row was not pardoned. Jones received a fine from the fire department, and a written notice that burning books is bad for the environment. In (dis) honor of his repeat offense against Islam and Muslims, we think back to all the crimes against Islam that have fueled ...

May 1, the day of the working man, and woman of course, is upon us. In the Middle East, the 1st of May, 2012, 'Labor Day' is a chance to shift our attention to the working class man or woman (leaving Mona Eltahawy crying misogyny aside), as we tip our hats off to the daily work that surrounds us. May 1 is a national holiday in more than 80 countries, offering workers some deserved respite and often a long 'bank holiday' weekend break, and is marked by many members of ...

Al Bawaba brings you a round-up of Arab celebrity news - spanning politics, performances and poetry tours. Find out what sultry Lebanese 'Beauty Queen', Haifa, has been getting up to, and catch up with the achievements, antics and interviews of classic artists as well as new-found talent to have emerged from the TV talent show circuit. Soulful Syrian singer, Waed Albahri, Syrian actress , Dima Qandalaft , Lebanese singer, Nikola Saade, poet Khalid Al Dhanhani, Tunisian Amani Swissi and UAE's latest voice, Mansour Zayed are featured. Please leave your comments!

Did you know these 'Western' uber-successful billionaire businessmen were of Arab extract? All male, this selection of exhorbitantly rich gents have featured year in year out in the Forbes wealth index lists, and are often the biggest fish - in dollar terms- in the global pond, let alone their domestic pools. If they're American, they were not necessarily born in the USA , but realized their American dreams nontheless when they became filthy rich! If they're from the UK, they were not always thoroughly British born and bred. All of ...